Main Entry:

star·ling

Pronunciation:

\ˈstär-liŋ\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English stærlinc, from stær starling + -ling, -linc -ling; akin to Old High German stara starling, Latin sturnus

Date:

before 12th century

: any of a family (Sturnidae, especially genus Sturnus) of usually dark gregarious oscine birds ; especially : a dark brown or in summer glossy greenish-black European bird (S. vulgaris) naturalized nearly worldwide and often considered a pest